Mercruiser Bravo 3 outdrive leg

[tonyhill]

Is there anyone else experiencing problems with the Mercruiser Bravo 3 outdrive leg? I am having gear selection problems and possibly an overheating problem. The leg is driven by a Yanmar 300 HP. Any info welcome

[John Kennett]

Tony

I don't have details to hand, but I know that a number of people have had problems with outdrive failures with the Yanmar 300hp engines.

Is it still under warranty? If it is then there shouldn't be a problem with getting it sorted.

John

[tonyhill]

Thanks John, More info would be welcome. We believe there is a design fault. Many people say they have heard of problems with this leg but it is trying to communicate with them. Our problems have been many fold including collapsed thrust bearing, fractured main shaft and failure to engage gear. The top of the drive is too hot to touch when running so we think cooling may be the main problem with the oil breaking down as the start. If you know of anyone by name please contact
Tony

[tonyhill]

Further update
I have been contacted by telephone by a commercial operator who bought a new boat recently, has 1,300 engine hours on the clocjk and has been towed home 4 times! All the problems are because of the outdrive leg, a Mercruiser Bravo 3 linked to a Yanmar. We are in touch with others but the more disgruntled rib owners with similar problems the better the case.

Tony Hill

[John Kennett]

There does seem to be a critical number of hours use where problems are occurring. Problems that I have heard of have mainly been on RIBs used for extensive cruising, and commercial boats. It will be interesting to see what happens when the Sunseekers with this combination get some more hours on them!

Tony, is your outdrive still under warranty? What has your supplier said about the problems?

John

[colin aston]

I am a commercial operator with a 9m rib and 300 yanmar/bravo 3 combination, at 370hrs a gear cog in the leg disintegrated, also had forward gear selection problem which is getting worse. I am talking to Yanmar but so far no real answers. any one else?